Combined insole and instep-supporter.



w. H. PASSIG; (JOMBINBD INSOLB AND INSTEP SUPPORTBB.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 16, I910.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

flu Q WILLIAM H. FASSIG, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

commune msonn AND msrnnsurroarnn Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911.

Application filed January 15, 1910. serial No. 538,265,

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, WILLIAM HQ FAssic, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combined Insoles and Instep-Supporters, of

which the following is a specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which v Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a pair of my new combined insole and instepsupporters; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line 2.2, Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a crosssectional view on the line 33, Fig. 1.

This, invention relates to a new and useful improvement in combined insole and instepsupporters, the objects of my invention being to provide a combined insole and instep-supporter which will be light in weight, strong, and durable, and which, while retaining a substantially permanent form, will yet be ,filthe under side. 0"? :i'ul cork body l by glue or.

soft on the foot and sufficiently ,flexible or elastic to accommodate the movements of the bones thereof, so as to be usable without dis comfort, and to improve generally upon articles of the kind'stated.

With these objects in View, my invention consists in the novel construction of the several parts of my new insole and instep-supporter and in the novel arrangement and combination ,of the same, all as will hereinafter be described and afterward pointed out in the claims. In the drawings, 1 indicates what might a be called the main body of my combined insole and instep-supporter. The body 1 is preferably made" "of a single piece of cork out or ground to the desired arch and shape oot formation this body articularly in Fig. 2, portion andlthinned ofl' 1 being, as shown thickest at its ,towai d its edges, and the top surface thereof being curved or concaved, as shown. This cork body 1, being merely cut or ground, as

- stated, to the desired arch and shape, retains its natural elasticity or flexibility and thus,

while serving to support the instep, is yet comparatively soft on the foot and will yield sufficiently to accommodate the several movements of the bones of the foot.

Considerably lougsier and somewhat wider than cork body .1, soc

-,preferabl v secm gggl an stantia'lly centrally to ember suitable fastening means is a bottomparticularly Fig. 1, and

covering-member 2, whichis preferably of". soft or pl able leather, sheep-skin, or the -like; and 3 indicates a top covering-member,

which is also referably of soft or liable leather,-'sheepin, or the like, and w ich is also of the same size and shape as bottom covering-member 2, these members 2 and 3 being somewhat thinned off at their ed es and secured together at such edges by g ue or other suitable fastening means. The said members 2 and 3 are cut to the. desired size and shape to properly fit the cork body 1 and the contour and size of shoe with which the particular insole and instep-supporter is to be used.

Interposed between cover-members 2 and 3 and over cork body 1 is an intermediate cover-member 4, also preferably of soft or pliable leather, sheep-skin, or the like, this member 4, which is somewhat larger than cork body 1., being preferably glued or otherwise secured to said cork body 1 and to said member 2; and interposed between covermembers 2 and 3 and over intermediate cover-member is a layer of felt, padding,

or the like, 5, of substantially the same shape and size as top covering-member 3.

Removably secured by means of fasteners 6 to, say, the right-hand insole and instepsupporter, see Fig. 1, is a piece or plate of zinc 7 cut or shaped preferably as shown, while similarly secured to the left-hand insole and instep-supporter, see Fig. 1, is a like piece or plate of copper 8. These plates or elements 7 and 8 make up, what might be called, a

alvanic cell, the perspiration of the foot bemg, so to speak, the electrolyte, and I have found that by using a pair of my combined insole and instep-supporters with said plates 7 and 8 thereon, the circulation of blood in the user may be kept toned up and the' 'users' general bodily health preserved. 'It

will be understood, however, that my new combined insole and instep-supporters are complete and capable of, and, as a matter of fact, are mostly used without said plates, the

said plates being readily removable or placed in position and used,.as desired.

My combined insole and instep-supporter, as will beseen, is light in weight and can be manufz'tctured at comparatively slight cost; while strong and durable and affording a firm support for the arch or instep, it is soft and comfortable to the foot, the parts being sufliciently flexible or elastic to accommodate the movements ofthe bones thereof. Itwill ios also be understood that my combined insole and instep-supporters can be manufactured in any shape or size desired to properly fit the formation of the feet or contour of the shoes with which they are to be. used, and that minor changes in the arrangement, construction," and combination of the several parts of my combined insole and instep-sup porter may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and principle of my invent on.

- Having thus described my inventiomwhat I claim and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, the

- combinedinsole and instep-supporter herein size as, and interposed'betwee'n,

- ing-member size and I sha e as said bottom coveringmember and. eing secured over said cork body, said covering-members being secured together at their edges, and a layer of padding of substantially the same shape and bottom covering-members and over said cork body; substantially as described.

2. As a new article of manufacture, the flexible combined insole and instep-supsaid top andporter herein described, the same comprising a main body of natural flexible cork cut or ground to the desired arch and shape to fit proper foot-formation, said cork body being thickest at its middle portion and thinned off toward its edges and the top surface thereof being curved or concaved, a bottom 'coveringmember of pliable material cut to the desired size and shape to fit shoe-contour, said bottom covering-member extending beyond the bottom edges of, and being substantially centrally secured to, said cork body, a top covering-member of pliable material having the same size and shape as said bottom covering-member and being secured over said cork-body, said covering-members being secured together at their edges, an intermediate covering-member interposed between said top and bottom covering-members and secured to said top surface of said corkbody, said intermediate covering-member being substantially of the'same shape as, but slightly larger than, said top surface of said cork body, and a layer of padding of substantiallythe same shape and size as, and interposed between, said top and bottom covering-membersand over said intermedi-" ate covering-member; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. I, r I

' WILLIAM H. vl ASSIGr.

Witnesses: c

CAROLINE L. WEBER, Gnonen 'C. EICHBAUM. 

